Put the lime in the coconut and drink it right up!

Okay, it’s not a drink, but I cannot write about coconut without this great song popping into my head. Blogging on Friday night, I clearly need a Pina Colada!

So here goes, play the clip and read on…

I think I may have stumbled upon a secret ingredient, although now it’s not so much of a secret…but hey I am all about the sharing people. Want a crunchy, light crumble? Easy! Add coconut to your crumble mix.

I have been making crumble for approximately 30 years, so I don’t follow a recipe anymore. I will endeavor to weigh the ingredients next time so I can let you know.

I use butter (not margarine), plain or self-raising flour whichever is to hand, and a few tablespoons of caster sugar. I’ve added oats in the past, roughly chopped almonds, cinnamon, and or lemon rind…these ingredients all help to add a bit more flavour or crunch or nutrition. Last week I decided to do a tropical version and included mango and apple in the filling (yummy), and I added approximately 4 tablespoons of desiccated coconut to the crumble mix.  The coconut added a noticeable lightness to the crumble without it becoming floury – I will definitely use it again.

Some other fillings I have tried in the past you might like to try…
Rhubarb (with some sugar to sweeten), Apple, Pear and Apple, Rhubarb and Strawberry, Apple and Blackberry, Apple and Blueberry, Mango and Apple, and Pineapple and Apple.

“Yes Luke, I am your feeder “…(meal plan)

It’s January and everyone is blogging about detoxing, eating healthy, exercising more, running faster and so on.  A bit like a lemming, I too plan to walk my ass off on the buggy school run and during mommy ‘downtime’ bounce my butt off on the kids new 13 ft trampoline. However, my fitness goal is more to do with the fact I’ve stopped breastfeeding (my baby, not me personally – eeuuww) and the pounds are looming…

The new school buggy run is very pleasant for the most part. There’s a nasty hill at the end but thankfully I can just make it up to the school without any audible grunting. At 8am it’s still relatively cool, I get to peek in the driveways of the monster-mansions of my prosperous neighbours, Adam and I discuss the news of the day (or sometimes just trains and the moon) and there is the chance of monkeys. And who knows my butt might be a fraction firmer because of it. Stranger things have happened.

However as you enlightened people know, there is no Yang without Yin. So to balance out all this carb-burning New Year’s activity I have a meal plan from the dark side. Yes Luke, I am your feeder.

Oh So Easy Chocolate Cake – click here for recipe
Sticky Ribs, Potato Salad and veggie of your choice (or not)
Coconut & Mango Crumble  – recipe to follow later next week
Nonya (Malaysian Chilli Paste) Baked Fish with Rice and Garlic Long beans
Meatballs in Home-Made Tomato and Basil Sauce with Spaghetti

My delightfully tropical Coconut & Mango Crumble

Did I mention some of the above are desserts or cakes?  But note, they offer more than enough calories to keep you going. Plus you are all big enough (sorry, is that a sore point after Christmas?)..and beautiful enough, to make sure your get your veggies.